Outfeed mechanism



y 21, 1963 1.. v. DUTRO 3,384,366

OUTFEED MECHANI SM LYLE K DUTRO A TTORNE Y3.

United States Patent 3,384,366 OUTFEED MECHANISM Lyle V. Dutro, 1660 Carriage House Road, Pasadena, Calif. 91107 Filed Feb. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 525,715 11 Claims. (Cl. 271-12) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding out individual members of a stack of objects. The stack is arrayed with the margin of an end member exposed. A rotatable bending means traverses the margin, wrapping the margin on itself, while bringing a transfer means toward the bent margin to receive it and carry away the end member.

This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding out individual members of a stack of objects.

It is a common requirement, especially in the printing industry, to feed out individual members of a stack of papers, folios or the like. After they are fed out, they may be supplied to any desired machine such as for unfolding, trimming, collating or any other desired purpose. Feeding devices for this purpose have been built before, but in general they have had to be very complex and eX- pensive in order to be reliable. Efforts to produce simple devices at a lower cost have generally produced devices which were unreliable as to the numbers fed out at a time, and often have exerted such forces on the items themselves as to spoil a substantial number of them by smudging, tearing, or otherwise disfiguring them. The device according to this invention has proved to be nearly 100% accurate in enticed, to accomplish the feeding operation without damage to the product, to be simple in construction, and able to be built for a relatively low cost.

A mechanism according to this invention includes a support for a stack of objects whose individual members are to be fed, which support leaves exposed and free a margin adjacent to an end of one of the members. Bending means is provided which is so disposed, arranged and adapted as to grasp the said margin and bend the said end member so as to move the margin away from the stack. Traverse means is provided to move the bending means so as to accomplish the bending function. Transfer means is so disposed and arranged as to grasp the bent portion of the member and to pull it from the stack.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the bending means includes a sucker wheel which is adapted to attach to the margin and rotate relative thereto so as to wrap a portion of said margin onto the surface of the sucker wheel, thereby bending the margin away from the stack. The center of the wheel is moved relative to the stack by the traverse means at such a rate that there is substantially no tangential differential movement between the stack and the sucker wheel, thereby avoiding smearing and the like.

According to still another preferred but optional feature of the invention, the traverse means comprises a pivotally mounted arm in which the sucker wheel is mounted to the arm at a location spaced from the pivot point of the arm, and in which positioning means is operati'vely engaged to the sucker wheel to position it angularly about its own axis so as to avoid substantial tangential differential movement between the sucker wheel and the said margin.

The above and other features of this invention will be "ice fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in cutaway cross-section showing the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sections taken at lines 2'2 and 3 3, respectively, in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are schematic sectional drawings of the device of FIG. 1 in three sequential operating positions;

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary side elevations, partly in cross-section, showing alternate embodiments for parts of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a feeder mechanism 10 according to the invention adapted to feed individual members 1-1 of a stack 12 of objects from a support 13 to a using machine 1'4. The using machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is an unfolding device. The objective of this using machine is to receive folded members 11 between two guides 15, 16, and then to move the folded article downwardly between a pair of sucker wheels 17, 18 which accomplish the unfolding of the member by pulling its free edges apart. The details of operation of the using machine, or the type of using mahcine, are immaterial to the present invention. However, it is pertinent to note that the using machine can readily be timed to the feeder mechanism so that the two can work together. Instead of an unfolding device, the using machine might be such as a collator, stacker, numbering device, trimmer, or any one of many other devices which operate on one object at a time.

The feeder mechanism rests upon a base 20 and includes three bearing blocks 21, 22, 23, which are provided in pairs, one member at each side. FIG. 1 is an axial cross-section of the machine. Bearing blocks 21 support a shaft 24 which is adapted to be driven so as to drive belts 25 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 8). Arms 26 (FIG. 8), which form a part of a traverse means, extend away from shaft 24 and are freely pivotable thereon. Arms 26 support shaft 27 which supports pulleys 28 for free rotation thereon. Belts 25 make a loop which is driven from shaft 24. Shaft 24 in turn may be driven by means such a chains, belts, or the like (not shown) which in turn are motor driven. For example, gear 29 (FIG. 2) may form a portion of a power train connected by a chain to shaft 24.

Arms 26 are adapted to be reciprocated through an are around shaft 24 by means of crank 30, which crank is attached to a drive shaft 31. This crank also forms part of the traverse means. An adjustable link 32 is provided for adjusting the effective length of drive rod 33. Drive shaft 31 may be driven by the power train described above. Shaft 27 will reciprocate through anarc whose size is determined by the length of the throw of crank 30.

Bending means 35 includes a sucker wheel 36 with a sucker port 37 on its periphery. This port connects through a passage 38 to a conduit 39 (FIG. 3) and thence to a timed three-way valve 40. The valve in turn is connected by conduit 41 to a vacuum pump 42 or other source of vacuum. The sucker wheel is keyed or otherwise fixed to shaft 27 so as to rotate therewith, while the shaft is itself freely rotatable on arms 26.

Positioning means 45 for the sucker wheel comprises a pair of rigid links 46, 47. Link 46 is pivotably attached to bearing block 23 and to link 47, while link 47 is rigidly attached to shaft 27 (and thereby to the sucker wheels) and pivotably attached to link 46. Therefore, as arms 26 swing through its arc, the positioning means will determine the specific angular positions for the port on the sucker wheel relative to the base. Three important ones =3 of these positions can best be seen in FIGS. 5-7. The links may be provided with slots and like means for adjusting their relative lengths and respective pivot points. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the outer surfaces of belts stand Within the periphery of the sucker wheel, by a small increment d on the order of about 0.014". The pulley and the sucker wheel are spaced apart from each other. Any number of pulleys and belts and sucker wheels may be used, but one of each is obviously the minimum which would be used. A good arrangement is a. pair of sucker wheels for each belt, with two such sets provided. A pair of idler wheels 50, 51 are individually mounted to respective arms 52, 53 on arms 26, and are spring-loaded against the belts by springs 54-, 55, against each belt. These wheels will readily spring away from the belt to permit the passage of a folded article, and form with the belt a narrowing opening to receive the member, such as a newspaper. Stop means may bet provided to assure that there is always a spacing between them. There is no impediment between the motion of any element of the feeder mechanism and the using machine.

A nozzle 69 is carried by arms 26 directed downwardly toward the stack and is adapted to give either a continuous or an intermittent burst of compressed air as arms 26 move downward. This air aids in separating the end member from the others, and also lubricates its side as it moves out of the stack.

The support includes a base 61 and a sidewall 62, the sidewall leaving exposed and free the margin 63 adjacent to an edge 64 of an end member of the stack. The stack can readily slide down the base 61 (to the left of FIG. 1) by gravity, or may be pushed against the sidewall, if desired. The elevation of the base is adjustable to accommodate stacks with different widths of articles. The arms are so disposed and arranged that the sucker wheel, as it moves through an arc, will have a substantial component of motion parallel to the aforesaid margin and will clear the sidewall.

Details of the timed three-way valve are best shown in FIG. 2 This is a face-plate valve having a pair of stationary ports 65, 66, port 65 being connected to conduit 41 which is a source of vacuum, and port 66 being connected to conduit 39 which connects with passage 38 inside shaft 27. A stationary faceplate 67 has these two stationary ports formed therein. A rotary valve plate 63 has an arcuate valve groove 69 which is adapted to overlay both stationary valves in some of its rotary positions and to close them in others. In FIG. 3, it is shown connected only to port 65, and groove 69 is being pumped down. After a few more degrees of rotation, the two ports will be joined and port 37 will be connected with suction and will remain so until the arcuate groove passes beyond port 65, at which time vent groove 70 is connected to port 66 long enough to vent conduit 39 and release the suction at port 37.

Rotary valve plate 68 is spring-loaded against the stationary face-plate by springs 71 seated in a key plate 72, which key plate is held by set screw 73 to drive shaft 31. There will be a complete valve cycle of the timer valve for every cycle of arms 26.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show alternate forms of positioning means. The means of FIG. 9 includes a rack mounted to base 20, and a sprocket 91 fixed to the sucker wheel so as to turn it. The crank 39 and drive rod 33 are connected to shaft 27 so as to move it up and down with the sprocket engaged to the rack. The remainder of the device is as in FIG. 1, with the addition of means to allow shaft 24 to shift in order to compensate for the change in center location of the arcuate movement of arms 26.

FIG. 10 shows the use of a chain 95 instead of a rack as in FIG. 9. One end of the chain is attached to the base, and the other hangs free with a weight 16 attached thereto, engaging sprocket 91 as in FIG. 9.

The operation of the feeder mechanism of FIG. 1 will be understood from examination of the figures. FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 illustrate the device at the start of a cycle. At this time the valve groove 69 has just overlapped port 65, and the traverse means is about to start moving the sucker wheel along the margin. After a few degrees of crank rotation, ports 65 and 66 will be connected and suction is exerted at the sucker wheel port. The sucker wheel has now moved so that the peripheral port is substantially opposed to the margin of the paper, and it will now attach to the same and pull it against the periphery of the wheel. As the drive shaft continues to rotate, the arms will continue to move down, and, as can be seen from arrow 75, this movement is in a rather shallow are which has a substantial component parallel to the said margin.

The positioning means and the traverse means so coordinate translation of the sucker wheel center and the angular position of its periphery that there is no substantial slippage or relative tangential motion between the periphery of the sucker wheel and the said margin. Therefore, as a practical matter, the sucker wheel rolls along the margin and wraps it upon itself. The surface speed of the belt is faster than that of the sticker wheel, but the belt is recessed from the member, and does not touch it at this time.

At the time the device reaches the position of FIG. 6, the edge of the member has been brought into a V-shaped structure formed by the belts and wheels 51. If the memher were let loose now, it would still be trapped between them. In order to prevent tearing the member, the sucker wheel should let go at the moment the belt grabs it, for the belt is traveling faster. Because of the V-shaped construction, it is possible to let go an instant before to be absolutely safe. Whatever the exact timing may be, at or just beyond the position of FIG. 6, and before the member is moved substantially by the belt, the sucker wheel lets go. This is accomplished by the actuator valve groove 69 moving out of registration with port 65 and overlapping vent groove 70 so as quickly to restore atmospheric pressure to the sucker port and release the object. Immediately thereafter, the situation is as shown in FIG. 7, with the member under control of the transfer means, and being rapidly removed from the stack. As the device returns upward, arms 26 aid in pulling the member out from beneath the weight of the stack, and the timer valve moves again to the position shown in FIG. 3 after which the cycle is repeated.

The relative speeds of the various parts of the device may readily be coordinated by an appropriate selection of gear sizes and tooth counts, or by separate drives for the respective means which are coordinated as to speed.

At the positions shown in FIGS. 57, a blast of air may issue from the nozzle, thereby aiding the separation of the bottom member of the stack from the rest of the members by freeing the edge and lubricating the adjacent surfaces so they slide past each other.

Furthermore, it may be desired to put belts 25 around wheels 50, 51 and drive those to give a more positive transfer of the member. However. the structure shown has proved to be quite adequate. In addition, guides and the like may be provided, if desired, above belt 25 to ke p the member aligned.

The positioning means of FIGS. 9 and 10 operate in the same manner as that of FIG. 1. the rack or cha n and sprocket functioning in the same manner to roll the sucker wheel along the member. These embodiments have the advantage that the sucker wheels center moves parallel to the margin, rather than through an are.

To summarize, the bending means grasps and bends the end member of the stack without exerting any pulling or pinching effect thereon. The pulling and pinching effect is done entirely by the transfer means which, instead of having to go into the stack to secure the item, simply takes the bent-over edge, thereby to pull the member out of the stack. This device thereby separates the two force requirements for the job, one to select the individual member from the stack, and the other to pull it out. It has been a failing of the prior art devices that it was necessary to exert too strong a force for one requirement so as to give etfect to the other, or to make one force too light to keep from overstressing the member. In this device, only enough force is used for the respective task.

This invention thereby provides a simple feeding mechanism for extracting members one by one from an edge of a stack which is reliable and gentle to the objects being handled.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description which is given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for feeding out individual members of a stack of objects comprising: a support for said stack which leaves exposed a margin of an end of one of said members; bending means comprising a sucker wheelhaving a center of rotation; traverse means to which the bending means is rotatably mounted and movable to move the said center of rotation in a path having a substantial component of motion parallel to said margin, and with the periphery of the sucker wheel abutting the said margin; positioning means operatively engaged to the bending means to rotate the sucker wheel at such an angular velocity that there is substantially no tangential differential motion between said margin and the periphery of the sucker wheel; suction means connected to said sucker wheel including a valve whereby suction may be exerted at the periphery of the sucker wheel to hold the margin to the sucker wheel and wrap the same upon the sucker wheel as it moves along the mar-gin, thereby bending the margin of the end member away from the stack, the member being released from the sucker wheel by release of the suction; and transfer means carried by the traverse means so disposed and arranged as to move to receive the edge of said margin when bent away from the stack by the sucker wheel.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the transfer means comprises a conveyor belt, and means opposed to said conveyor belt to press the member against said conveyor belt.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which a port opens through the periphery of the sucker wheel and in which the suction means includes a timed valve periodically connecting and disconnecting said port to a source of suction.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 in which the timed valve comprises a three-way valve adapted selectively to connect the sucker wheel port to the source of vacuum, or to atmosphere.

5. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the traverse means comprises a pivotably mounted arm, in which the sucker wheel is mounted to the arm at a location spaced from the center of rotation of the arm.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5 in which the arm is moved through an arc by a reciprocating crank linkage.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6 in which the positioning means includes a pair of pivotally joined links, an end of one 'being attached to the sucker wheel to turn it, and the other end being mounted to stationary structure.

8. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the positioning means comprises a fixed rack, and a sprocket engaged to the rack and fixed to the sucker wheel, whereby the angular position of the sucker wheel is determined by the position of the traverse means.

9. A mechanism according to claim 8 in which the traverse means includes a reciprocating crank linkage for moving the positioning means.

10. A mechanism according to claim 1 in which the positioning means includes a chain with one fixed end, and a sprocket engaged to the chain, whereby the angular position of the sucker wheel is determined by the position of the traverse means.

11. A mechanism according to claim 10 in which the traverse means includes a reciprocating crank linkage for moving the positioning means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,510 4/1953 Grant 271-13 3,025,052 3/ 1962 Gutteling 271-12 3,166,311 1/1965 Ra-binow 27112 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner. 

